Hand operable tape dispenser and applicator

ABSTRACT

A portable dispenser and applicator has a handle and a support for a supply roll of tape, and a shiftable applicator roller locked normally in an operative position for applying the tape. A trigger extending from a head portion of the dispenser is depressible by a finger of the hand first to unlock the roller mounting and then retract the roller to enable the tape to be drawn against a tear-cut blade and to be cut. When the trigger is released the roller is shifted back to its locked operative position.

nited States Patent Fritzinger [4 Jan. 15, 1974 U4] HAND OPERABLE TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: George I'll. Fritzinger, l5 Standish Ave., West Orange, NJ. 07052 [22] Filed: May 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 254,428

156/579 [51] Int. Cl B321) 31/08 [58] Field of Search 156/523, 527, 574, 156/579, 577

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,567,557 3/1971 Kingery et al. 156/523 3,725,182 4/1973 Regan 156/527 Primary ExaminerEdward G. Whitby [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable dispenser and applicator has a handle and a support for a supply roll of tape, and a shiftable applicator roller locked normally in an operative position for applying the tape. A trigger extending from a head portion of the dispenser is depressible by a finger of the hand first to unlock the roller mounting and then retract the roller to enable the tape to be drawn against a tear-cut blade and to be out. When the trigger is released the roller is shifted back to its locked operative position.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMENTH] JAN 1 5 I974 SHEET 2 0F 2 HAND OPERABLE TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR An object of the invention is to provide such dispensers which are of very simple design and economical construction.

Another object is to provide such dispensers with an applicator roller on a shiftable mounting normally locked in position for applying tape and which is unlocked and thenretracted by depressing a trigger in a single direction of movement.

Another object is to provide an embodiment of such dispenser having an upstanding trigger operable through a cam and a lost-motion coupling first to unlatch the roller mounting and then to retract the roller.

Another object is to provide an embodiment of such dispenser having a depending trigger connected directly to the roller mounting to tilt it out of latching position and then to retract the same as the trigger is depressed.

Another object is to provide an embodiment of such a dispenser made of plastic and of the type held loosely by the hand passing through the supply roll, wherein the trigger serves as a thumb rest for pressing the roller against the surface being taped and is operable by a rolling motion of the thumb for cutting the tape.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention reference is bad to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present dispenser showing it being held by the hand in a tape dispensing position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a fractional side view with the side cover removed showing to enlarged scale the applicator-roller mounting in its normally locked position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the head portion of the dispenser shown in FIG. 3; and I FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the trigger depressed and the roller shifted in its retracted position.

FIG. 6 is a side view with a front portion of the side cover removed of a second embodiment of the invention showing it being held in a dispensing position;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view with the side cover attached; and FIG. 8 is a side view with the cam removed showing the trigger operated for cutting the tape.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 is of a molded plastic construction comprising a one-piece handlehousing 10 provided with a front head section 11 and a rear handle section 12 joined together by a side wall 13. A corrugated blade 14 is secured by a clamp member 15 and two screws 16 to a front inset wall 17 of the head section. Also, by an internal mounting later described the head section carries an applicator roller 18 therebelow at a distance to the rear of the cutting blade. The handle section has a laterally'extending curved member 19 blending into a flat member 20 at the front thereof on which a roll S of tape is mounted typically of a three inch inside diameter and of a one inch maximum width. A flanged extension 13a of the wall 13 around the handle section 1920 provides a side barrier for the roll of tape at one side and a rim flange 21 on these sections provides a barrier at the other side to retain the supply roll S on the handle I2. The user places the fingers of his hand through the supply roll, gripping the handle section 19 with the fore finger of the hand abutting against the side wall 13 and the thumb extending forwardly over the roll of the tape and resting on a trigger 22 upstanding from the head section II (FIG. 1).

The head section II is of a hollow construction slightly wider than the handle l2 and is closed at its side opposite the wall 113 by a cover plate 23 held by two screws 24. One screw threads into a rib 25 of the front wall of the head section and the other screw threads into a post 26 extending from the wall 13. At the bottom of the head section there are two aligned posts 27 and 28 extending respectively from the wall 13 and cover plate 23 at the rear of the applicator roller for retaining the free length of tape 29 drawn from the supply roll S in position below the applicator roller after the tape is cut. Preferably, these posts 27-28 are short of meeting each other to leave a gap 30 therebetween for easy threading of the tape into position above the posts.

The applicator roller 18 is mounted on a shaft 31 carried at its ends by flanges 32 depending from the opposite sides of a plunger 33 of a hollow construction. This plunger has trunnions 34 at the opposite sides of its lower half portion which slidably engage respective grooves 35 and 36 in the wall 13 and cover plate 23 respectively. Only for appearance the grooves are covered by thin-wall caps 37 and 38 integral with the wall 13 and cover plate 23. By the engagement of the trunnions with the grooves 35 and 36 the plunger is permitted to be tilted and to be shifted upwardly to retract the roller into the head section (FIG. 5). When the roller is so retracted the tape can be drawn straight from the supply roll at right angles across the cutting edge of the blade so as to be easily cut.

A tension spring 39 connected obliquely from the upper part of the plunger to a pin 40 on the wall 13 hiases the plunger 33 downwardly into a position wherein the side trunnions abut the ends of the grooves 35 and 36, and the upper part of the plunger is in a locking position below an internal post 41 extending from the wall 13 and anchored for strength by rib 42 to the top wall of the head section. This plunger has a centrally located and vertically extending slot 43 (FIG. 3) engaged by the tip 44a of an arm 44 of a bell crank lever 45 pivoted on the central portion of the post 26. The upper arm 46 of the bell crank lever extends through a slot 47 in the top wall of the head section and terminates in the trigger 26 aforementioned. The arm 44 has two side wings 48 forming cam members near its tip portion 44a and has its tip portion 44a beyond the cam members engaging the slot 43 with a lost motion coupling. The cam members have oblique faces which engage the confronting wall of the plunger 33 to locate the plunger in its locking position below the post 41 when the plunger is in its biased downward position. Further, by the engagement of the plunger with the cam members 48 the trigger is biased forwardly into its unoperated position (FIG. 3). Upon pressing the thumb in the direction of the arrow 49 against the trigger the tip 44a engages the bottom of the slot to press the applicator roller against the surface being taped. When the user applies a rolling motion of the thumb over the top of the trigger the same is shifted rearwardly first to raise the arm 44 through the length of the slot 43 without raising the plunger but with a camming action of the side wings 48 against the plunger to tilt it forwardly out of locking engagement with the post 41. Upon further movement of the trigger in a rearward direction the tip 44a engages the top of the groove 43 to raise the plunger and withdraw the applicator roller into the head section of the dispenser. This allows the tape now to be drawn directly against the cutting edge of the blade at right angles thereto for easy cutting action. When the trigger is released the plunger is returned by the spring 39 first to engage the trunnions with the bottom of the grooves 35 and 36 and then to allow the plunger to be tilted forwardly into its locking position with a resultant camming of the trigger into its most forward end position.

The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8 comprises a housing 49 having a central hollow handle 50 provided with spaced rearward tail pieces 51 for carrying a supply roll of tape 52 and having a forward head section 53 carrying an applicator roller 54 therebelow and a tear-cut blade 55 above and to the front of the roller. The supply roll 52 is mounted on a reel 56 having trunnions 57 journaled in the tail pieces. The housing 49 is divided on a medial plane MM into mating frame and cover sections 49a and 49b. Thumb screws 58 and 59 pass through the cover section and thread into respective studs 58a and 59a staked to the frame section to hold the cover removably in place.

When the cover is removed the dispenser is loaded by drawing the tape forwardly from the supply roll between the stud 59a and an adjacent stud 60 therebelow staked also to the frame section, then across a roller 61 journaled on a stud 62 staked to the frame section 49a and positioned in the head portion 53, and then across the bottom of the applicator roller 54. A bail 63 on the stud 60 is biased by a tension spring 64 against the adhesive side of the tape backed by a rubber sleeve 65 on the stud 59a to prevent back feeding of the tape. The roller 61 is covered by a silicon sleeve 66 to lessen the adherence of the tape to this roller.

The applicator roller 54 is journaled on a shaft 67 carried at its ends in a U-shaped plunger 68 and held at its ends in the plunger by retainer rings 69. The shaft 67 has end extensions 67a and 67b which slidably engage slots 70a and 70b respectively in the side walls of the frame and cover sections of the head portion 53. An outer retaining ring 71 on the extension 670 retains the shaft to the frame section when the side cover is removed.

The plunger 68 spans the inside width of the head section 53 with clearance and extends obliquely upwardly past the stud 58a. By means of a tension spring 72 connected between the transverse end wall 68a of the plunger and a stud 73 staked to the head section, the plunger is biased downwardly to an end position determined by abutment of the shaft 67 against the bottom ends of the slots 70a and 70b and is tilted rearwardly against the stud 73 as a stop leaving the upper rearward portion of the transverse member 68a of the plunger in latching engagement below a stud 74 staked at one end in the frame section 49a and extending through an opening in the cover section 49b at its outer end. A U-shaped member 75 welded to the lower portion of the plunger 68 extends forwardly therefrom and carries a trigger 76 to be engaged by a finger of the hand gripping the handle 50. When the trigger is raised the plunger 68 is first tilted forwardly about the shaft 67 against the stud 58a and out of engagement with the stud 74 to unlatch the plunger, and with a further lifting movement of the trigger the plunger is raised slidably between the studs 58a and 74 as guides to retract the applicator roller so that the tape drawn from the supply roll will be led at right angles against the cutting blade 55. Preferably, the applicator roller is raised through a sufficient distance to permit the blade to be mounted relatively high to the normal position of the applicator roller so the tape can be applied as downwardly across a vertical side of a box while holding the dispenser in nearly horizontal position. The blade is of a corrugated type adapted for easily cutting the strandtype strapping tapes and is held by screws 77 to a holder plate 78 riveted at 79 to the front wall of the frame section 49a. Curved side fingers 78a on the holder plate beyond the ends of the blade serve to prevent the blade from engaging the surface being taped.

The embodiments of my invention herein particularly shown and described are intended to be illustrative and not necessarily limitative of my invention since the same is subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which 1 endeavor to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressure-sensitive tape comprising a housing having a handle, means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape and a forward head portion, said head portion having a cutter blade mounted at the front end thereof and an applicator roller supported below said head portion in a position below and to the rear of said cutter blade, means mounting said cutter blade and applicator roller on said portion for relative shifting movement into a position wherein the bottom of said roller and cutting edge of said blade are substantially at the same level permitting tape to be drawn across the bottom of said roller at substantially right angles to said blade, means for latching said blade and applicator roller in operative position permitting tape to be rolled onto a surface without said blade contacting the surface, and a trigger movably mounted on said head portion and coupled to said latching and mounting means for releasing said latching means and then shifting said mounting means in the sequence named responsive to a depression of said trigger in a single mode.

2. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 1 including a plunger rotatably supporting said applicator roller and slidably mounted in said head portion for retracting movement of said roller to enable the tape to be drawn across said roller at right angles to said blade, means for latching said plunger in operative position responsive to a pivotal movement of said plunger about an axis through the lower portion thereof, and means coupling said trigger to said plunger for first tilting the plunger to unlatch the same and for then shifting the plunger to retract said applicator roller responsive to a depression of said trigger.

3. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger is pivoted independently of said plunger and operable against the plunger with a cam action to first tilt the plunger responsive to an initial depression of the trigger, including a lost-motion coupling between the trigger and plunger for lifting the plunger to retract the roller responsive to a further depression of the trigger.

4. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein the trigger is rigidly connected to said plunger and displaced from the line of movement thereof for leverage to impart an initial tilting movement to the plunger to unlatch the same as the trigger is initially depressed, including guide means for limiting said plunger to a rectilinear movement responsive to a further depression of the trigger.

5. A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressure-sensitive strapping tape comprising a holder having a first portion for rotatably supporting a supply roll of said tape, said portion being adapted to be grapsed by the hand with the fingers passing through the supply roll, said holder having a forward head portion, a cutter blade mounted on the front part of said head portion, an applicator roller having an operative position at the under side of said head portion positioned below and to the rear of said cutter blade whereby when tape is pulled from said supply roll the same can be progressively applied to a surface without the blade contacting said surface by moving the dispenser with said roller in rolling contact with said surface, a plunger rotatably carrying said applicator roller, means mounting said plunger in said head portion for movement of said applicator roller into a retracted position to permit the tape to be drawn against the cutting edge of said blade and to be cut, and for return movement of said applicator roller to its operative position, means for latching said plunger to retain said applicator roller in operative position, means biasing said plunger into said operative position, and a manual control member pivoted to said head portion having an actuating member in lost motion coupling with said plunger for raising the plunger and having a cam portion slidably engaging the plunger for tilting the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion coupling whereby upon actuating said control member said plunger is unlatched and then raised to retract said applicator roller in the sequence named.

6. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 5 wherein said plunger has trunnions at the sides and said side walls have guide grooves engaged by said trunnions affording the plunger both a rectilinear and tilting movement, spring means biasing said plunger in a downwardly and in a backward tilting direction, and a stop member in said head portion below which said plunger is moved to latch said roller in operative position as the plunger is tilted backwardly while in its downward position.

7. The dispenser set forth in claim 6 wherein said manual control member is a bell crank lever pivoted at its axis to said head portion, including a finger piece on said lever extending upwardly through the top wall of said head portion of the holder to be operated by a digit of the hand, an arm on said lever engaging a slot in said plunger to provide a lost-motion coupling between the arm and plunger for raising the plunger, and side cam members on said arm slidably engaging the plunger to tilt the plunger out of latching position during said lostmotion movement of said arm relative to the plunger. 

1. A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressuresensitive tape comprising a housing having a handle, means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of tape and a forward head portion, said head portion having a cutter blade mounted at the front end thereof and an applicator roller supported below said head portion in a position below and to the rear of said cutter blade, means mounting said cutter blade and applicator roller on said portion for relative shifting movement into a position wherein the bottom of said roller and cutting edge of said blade are substantially at the same level permitting tape to be drawn across the bottom of said roller at substantially right angles to said blade, means for latching said blade and applicator roller in operative position permitting tape to be rolled onto a surface without said blade contacting the surface, and a trigger movably mounted on said head portion and coupled to said latching and mounting means for releasing said latching means and then shifting said mounting means in the sequence named responsive to a depression of said trigger in a single mode.
 2. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 1 including a plunger rotatably supporting said applicator roller and slidably mounted in said head portion for retracting movement of said roller to enable the tape to be drawn across said roller at right angles to said blade, means for latching said plunger in operative position responsive to a pivotal movement of said plunger about an axis through the lower portion thereof, and means coupling said trigger to said plunger for first tilting the plunger to unlatch the same and for then shifting the plunger to retract said applicator roller responsive to a depression of said trigger.
 3. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein said trigger is pivoted independently of said plunger and operable against the plunger with a cam action to first tilt the plunger responsive to an initial depression of the trigger, including a lost-motion coupling between the trigger and plunger for lifting the plunger to retract the roller responsive to a further depression of the trigger.
 4. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 2 wherein the trigger is rigidly connected to said plunger and displaced from the line of movement thereof for leverage to impart an initial tilting movement to the plunger to unlatch the same as the trigger is initially depressed, including guide means for limiting said plunger to a rectilinear movement responsive to a further depression of the trigger.
 5. A portable hand dispenser and applicator for pressure-sensitive strapping tape comprising a holder having a first portion for rotatably supporting a supply roll of said tape, said portion being adapted to be grapsed by the hand with the fingers passing through the supply roll, said holder having a forward head portion, a cutter blade mounted on the front part of said head portion, an applicator roller having an operative position at the under side of said head portion positioned below and to the rear of said cutter blade whereby when tape is pulled from said supply roll the same can be progressively applied to a surface without the blade contacting said surface by moving the dispenser with said roller in rolling contact with said surface, a plunger rotatably carrying said applicator roller, means mounting said plunger in said head portion for movement of said applicator roller into a retracted position to permit the tape to be drawn against the cutting edge of said blade and to be cut, and for return movement of said applicator roller to its operative position, means for latching said plunger to retain said applicator roller in operative position, means biasing said plunger into said operative position, and a manual control member pivoted to said head portion having an actuating member in lost motion coupling with said plunger for raising the plunger and having a cam portion slidably engaging the plunger for tilting the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion coupling whereby upon actuating said control member said plunger is unlatched and then raised to retract said applicator roller in the sequence named.
 6. The hand dispenser set forth in claim 5 wherein said plunger has trunnions at the sides and said side walls have guide grooves engaged by said trunnions affording the plunger both a rectilinear and tilting movement, spring means biasing said plunger in a downwardly and in a backward tilting direction, and a stop member in said head portion below which said plunger is moved to latch said roller in operative position as the plunger is tilted backwardly while in its downward position.
 7. The dispenser set forth in claim 6 wherein said manual control member is a bell crank lever pivoted at its axis to said head portion, including a finger piece on said lever extending upwardly through the top wall of said head portion of the holder to be operated by a digit of the hand, an arm on said lever engaging a slot in said plunger to provide a lost-motion coupling between the arm and plunger for raising the plunger, and side cam members on said arm slidably engaging the plunger to tilt the plunger out of latching position during said lost-motion movement of said arm relative to the plunger. 